LA

LACEI is a musical duo based out of LA. Viktor Ahlgren and Jessica Lombardozzi came together after meeting in business class, both bringing unique musical aspects to their project. Their music merges musical concepts, genres and styles that give LACEI a truly novel sound. Viktor (Vik) and Jessica (Jess) took the time to answer some questions about the origin of LACEI, their debut EP, 11:11, and their concert venue wishlists. Check it out!

MFL: How did the two of you come together to make LACEI and what is the meaning of your musical project’s name?

Jess and ViK (J&V): First, it’s great to be connecting with Music For Lunch; always amazing to be involved with supporters of the arts and upcoming artists.

ViK: We met in a music business class at our university and started to collaborate. I believe the initial origin of the name Lacei may have been inspired from Jessica’s obsession with Flyleaf lol, but then it definitely just fit the persona of the music we were creating.

MFL: I love the unique sounds that you have merged in LACEI. There is something gentle and folk-like about the vocals but it is meshed flawlessly with the kind of electronic music that is flooding the music sphere right now, creating something so innovative. I feel like “Cold Moon” is the perfect example of this. What kind of music-listeners are you trying to reach with this new sound?

Jess: Thank you very much. It seems that you understand what it is we are doing. We do not like to create boundaries or categorize, therefore we want to reach anyone and everyone that can relate to our stuff.

MFL: What is the overarching story you are telling with 11:11 and what is the significance of the EP title? 11:11 was always the time that I would make a wish when I was growing up!

Jess: We kept on seeing the numbers 11:11 everywhere, and I mean everywhere lol. In fact, the night we were discussing EP titles Viktor randomly looked at his phone and there it was again. So, we figured that was a sign haha. The spiritual meaning of 11:11 is that it is a sign of doing something right and being on the right path.

MFL: In your opinions, who are the musicians that are making waves today and how do they differ in sound and content compared to the musicians you grew up with?

J&V: Bon Iver. His latest album is a master piece. Vernon was able to create something unique and innovative with all this new sound and texture while at the same time keeping the ‘folky feeling’ as Bon Iver is known for. The album is also very short, only 34 min, which also is not very common, and the songs titles are crazy.

Another artist that is making waves is DJ Dahi who we have been privileged to work with. Dahi is an amazing producer and his tracks are always very interesting. He can bring out something different and unique in the artists he is working with and his beats always stands out from the rest.

MFL: Are there other songs in your musical treasure chest besides the four that appear on the 11:11 EP? If so, why didn’t they make it onto the EP?

Viktor: Yes! We have a huge repertoire of songs. But we thought these four records were enough to get the listeners an idea of what LACEI is while not revealing too much, leaving them interested in hearing more.

MFL: What do each of you bring to LACEI that is unique?

VIktor: Jess is amazing with topline, I’m working the tracks… we meet in the middle on melodies. Also, I’m a male, she’s a female; that always brings unique perspectives.

MFL: Why is LA your musical hub and how, if at all, does the culture influence your music?

J&V: LA is where we met, live and go to school. We are hitting the road to explore the world. We love to travel!

MFL: If you could pick your top 5 cities/venues to play in the world, where/what would they be?

J&V:

Coachella – because it’s Coachella haha.

Glastonbury (England) – Looks like a super dope festival.

Way Out West (Sweden) – because Viktor is from Sweden and he has always wanted to play back home.

Hollywood Bowl – because it is such a chill venue and we saw Bon Iver there and it was absolutely amazing.

Red Rocks Amphitheater – it just looks crazy.

MFL: If I were to dig through the music you listen to personally, what do you think would be the most surprising find?

Jess: Binary beats. Does that count as music? lol

ViK: That I am a huge fan of folk music haha.

MFL: Where and when can your fans find you playing live in the next couple of months?

J&V: Currently in the studio working hard on the album and hitting the road in the new year.

Thank you to Vik and Jess and their lovely PR agent, Theresa Montgomery of 24West for making this interview possible! You can find 11:11 on iTunes now and follow them on Facebook and Soundcloud.

Kathleen Munroe is a brightly talented singer/songwriter and actress originally form Hamilton, ON. Between acting and writing music she has found time to release her debut self-titled EP and first real solo effort. The EP was co-produced by Michael Keire and features friends and fellow musicians Noah Fralick, Ben Munoz, Julie Fader, Billy Holmes, and Steve McKay, among others. The EP came out May 12th on Hidden Pony and is available on iTunes now.

My first taste of Munroe was the track, “Nothing is Funny” and its accompanying music video. The track is simple, supple and beautiful, as is the music video. You can hear the creaking of the piano and its pedals while she plays, adding to the beauty of the track. “Nothing is Funny” is the concluidng piece on her EP. About the song and music video, Kathleen Munroe said:

“We shot this at the natural history museum in LA. Dioramas like those are so strange and sad because the whole point is to make the scenes and the animals in them look as life-like as possible –implying movement, relationships, behaviour, vitality–but the subjects in them are 100% dead. I got stuck on the idea of suggesting life where it doesn’t exist, and holding onto hope in a scenario that is clearly hopeless. That’s not really what the song is about, but it is a song about waiting, so I thought it would be cool to throw the thoughts together and push the idea of waiting to a point of absurd impossibility. Waiting for something that’s already been precluded.”

LA duo, Sego, recently released their high energy full length Once Was Lost Now Just Hanging Around, March 4th. Near the end of April, the duo remixed the lilting dream pop single from On an On, “Icon Love.” Sego ripped out the seams of On an On’s track and stitched it up with some serious psychedelic style. The track maintains the dream pop quality offered by On an On but based on the obvious energetic aspects of the duo’s latest full length, they clearly needed to add a bit of that spice to “Icon Love.” The track takes on a whole new electronic quality and is buzzing with electricity. Check it out:

Check out their tour dates here and purchase Once Was Lost Now Just Hanging Out on iTunes and Bandcamp.

Niantic is an alternative indie rock group composed of four fellas who were born and raised in LA. Michael Castro (bass, keyboard, guitar, vocals), Chris McCartt (drums, vocals), Alex Stensel (lead guitar, bass, vocals) and Ryan Trask (vocals, guitar, bass) all grew up in the midst of the wild world that is LA and within that wild world, they found peace in music. Niantic prides themselves on their live performances, creating a musical space for both themselves and their fans to get lost in.

They recently gave some students on the North Hollywood campus of the Arts Institute of California the opportunity to be part of a live experience. The video was filmed by the students and produced by a friend of the band, Ben Huff. The video captures all of the intricacies of recording and playing live, all the nuts, bolts and moving parts while giving the viewer a semi-live experience.

VARA is a producer/musician based out of LA who’s stamp on the electronic scene began with two remixes landing him a spot on Dance Club Songs Chart’s top five (Demi Lovato, ZZ Ward). “Break Down the Walls” is VARA’s powerful introduction to the world of electronic music as a solo artist. It’s a massive and potent electronic track which encapsulates the title perfectly.

This song needs to preface. Just prepare your ears for pure joy as Figs Vision twists, contorts and melds a Tina Turner classic into quirky pop single.

The LA musical project known as Figs Vision was the original brain child of long time friends, Jordan Spoliansky and Gunner Sixx, but is now made up of the Jordan Spoliansky (Vocals/Guitar), Gunner Sixx (Keys/ Synth), Zackary Darling (Bass/ Sequencer), Mike Musselman (Drums) and Mario Cerutti (Percussion). The project was inspired by a wild childhood story involving dirt bikes, a cave-dweller and two 14 year old boys.

LA’s power rockers, Bleached, have officially released their latest record, Welcome the Worms, on Dead Oceans. The ladies of Bleached Jen Clavin (vocals, guitar), Jessie Clavin (guitar) and Micayla Grace (bass) are currently touring the US in support of the record which premiered on NPR’s First Listen last week.